The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-03-31
couRrsHIp IN MEXICO.
Tho Way In Which Lovers Are Compelled
to Woo the Fair Senoritas.

COUR1SHlP IN MEXlCO.
Tho Way In Which Lovers Are Compelled
to Woo the Fair senoritas.
Mexican ladies seldom go out with
out some one of the family or a SER
want. They do not have gentlemen
visitors. There is no chance for gall
liant youth to burn the midnight oil or
gas at his prospective father-in-law'
expense. If young man has been
acquainted with girl from childhood.
or by some accident is allowed to visit
the family and becomes a lover, he is
Immediately forbidden the house. and
must continue his courting as best he
can. 1t is then the balcony is of SER
vice. Asignal is agreed upon, and the
senorita with ears alert hears it, and
appears upon the balcony and con-
verses with her lover below in the
street. Notes are secretly exchanged.
but never through the mail. To give
you an idea of Mexican courtship and
how Cupid breaks down the barriers
made by ignorance and superstition, I
will explain what is here termed s'play-
ing the bear" This is very popular
game-at least it seems so among the
Mexicans. 1t is played by two per-
sons, a lady and a gentleman. Both
are usually young-in their teens as it
were-though there are instances of
the game being played by couples who
had passed that period by several
years.
A young man becomes smitten with
a fair charmer at the opera or at
church. He follows the lady to her
home. Having that located, he makes
it his business to be in that neighbor-
hood as much as possible. He will
stroll by the house with his eyes ex-
pressive of the state of his heart, and if
he should catch glimpse of his fair
one he is happy. If he receives srile
he becomes intoxicated with love and
is ready to play the "bear' for an in
definite period of time. If the lady is
seated on the balcony when Romeo
arrives upon the scene she usually
withdraws, after exchanging glances
with him. This programme is kept up
for months. At last he receives smile
from fair Juliet. From smiles they get
to exchanging few words. There have
been actual cases where the bear has
frolicked about for year or two be-
fore The tickle maid would exchange a
word with him. Very often there are
two or three bears casting longing eyes
in the same direction. This frequently
causes bad blood. As soon as the cou-
pie begin to know each others voices
matters progress rapidly. After they
arrive at an understanding the perse-
vering lover hastens to the padre. The
kind priest finding that there is no rea-
son for objection ON either side, pro-
ceeds to intercede with the girls pa
rents and gain him admission to the
domicile of his lady love. As soon as
| a young man enters the house he is
considered engaged to the daughter. A
wedding quickly follows, and there is
no more playing the bear'' so far as
that young man is concerned.
| A great deal depends on the girl in
this game. She can make it long OF
short game. There has been C: Sc
]
who has never missed an evening fol
nearly three years, and he is still only
in the first stage of the game, posing OIL
walking up and down in front of the
senorita's home hoping to receive a
smile. Close observers say that, so far,
she only condescends to let him see the
least bit of her white dress through the
half-closed French windows that open
on the balcony. He was asked why he
played the bear so long when he met
with so little encouragement His re.
ply was:
'.Oh, Hove her so dearly! And she is
so rich!' I passed by house few
evenings since and saw lover stand.
ing in the shadow of friendly door.
way. He had a guitar. I moved in
the shadow to see the by-play. As the
soft notes broke the quietude of the
evening 1 saw window open in a
house adjoining and a senorita step out
on the balcony. The music continued
| for few moments and then ceased.
I saw the fair one drop something ovel
the balcony. The lover caught it and
retired into the shadow again. stroll
| ed up the street, crossed over, and
went toward them. / saw he was
holding something to his ear, and
knew telephone communications wa:
perfect between these two loving hearts
There is no such thing as being in.
troduced, even though helover be ac.
companied by relation. Should the
| parties meet on the promenade and the
relative desires to speak with his fail
relative he excuses himself and Joins
her, leaving the lover out in the cold,
as it were, until he gains admittance to
her parents house through the inter
cession ofthe priest. If while walking
in the Alameda or Zocolo he meets the
object of his affections he keeps at a re-
spectful distance, hoping that his pres.
ence may be noticed by her. If while
riding he sees her in a carriage, he
places himself as near as. possible and
feels rewarded for his trouble if he
catch glimpse of her face at each
turning OF receives sly glance OF
recognition. An engagement broken
in Mexico is considered a serious mat
ter. The lady is looked upon as dis
graced and seldom has another suitor
! San Francisco Chr.nicle.
| Be Sure to Beware of